First off, make sure you have POP access enabled in GMail. Second, make sure the permissions on the .fetchmailrc file are correct (should be 710). Also ensure that the username includes the "@gmail.com" bit.

How did you execute c_rehash?

Here's an example .fetchmailrc I found online that you may want to try:

Make sure that's set up. The error messages is rather cryptic but it looks like this may be a factor.

Understood. And done. And still the same messages. BTW: This is working on my
linux box. I believe that fetchmail is compiled with ssl enabled on the mac and is not
on the linux.
Thanks again.
I note that you remain online. I will not. It is late here and I will check back in the morning.

I have a solution:
I created a new set of certificates. That was wrong. Apparently I must use the
original issue as was on my current machine. It was as simple as copying the
.certs directory from my 'old' machine to the mac.

Although I am calling this solved, I would be open to documentation on this :
I.E. How to cancel one set of certificates and issue another for the same
mail server.
cheers
tim

I have a solution:
I created a new set of certificates. That was wrong. Apparently I must use the
original issue as was on my current machine. It was as simple as copying the
.certs directory from my 'old' machine to the mac.

I never would have caught that so well done on finding a solution.

Out of curiosity, if you use openssl to verify the certs, what do you get printed back (see here)?

And still get the complaint above. . But even so, mail for host266.hostmonster.com
is being retrieved, but I would like to get rid of the messages ....
This ssl - enabled fetchmail is a whole new ball game!